Anthony Rendon hit .375 with a team-high four homers and 11 RBI this spring.

VIERA, Fla. — The Nationals made their second round of spring training cuts this morning, sending top prospect Anthony Rendon and six others to minor-league camp.

Rendon was optioned to Class AA Harrisburg, where he’ll open the season. Right-hander Nathan Karns, the organization’s pitcher of the year in 2012, also was optioned to Harrisburg, along with catcher Sandy Leon. Outfielder Eury Perez (currently playing for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic) was optioned to Class AAA Syracuse. Infielders Matt Skole and Will Rhymes and left-hander Patrick McCoy, meanwhile, were re-assigned to minor-league camp.

Though he excelled in big-league camp, hitting .375 (12-for-32) with a team-high four homers and 11 RBI, Rendon knew all along he would open the season in the minors after missing most of last year with an ankle injury. He’ll return to Harrisburg, where he closed out 2012, but could get promoted to Class AAA Syracuse in short order and could reach Washington sometime this season.

Also gave me some insight into how difficult this blogging thing is. I mean, it's REAL work!!! Thanks for all the work Mark does! (Again!) One post took all morning (6 hours), and I already had most of the data. Now I wanna go read stuff, listen to baseball on the radio and post about the WBC. Poor Italy, they're out of it.

NL, I knew writing a blog would be a lot of work. Heck, I struggle just to make a post or two. I, too, am grateful for the fine job Mark does. Also for Chase when he steps in for Mark. Just to do it is great but to do it with quality is heaven sent.